On the Chicago Blackhawks …

Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com: VP of amateur scouting Mark Kelly on the Blackhawks holding No. 8 pick.

“I think a player we have listed as top-six value would be available to us at No. 8,” Kelley said. “I wouldn’t want to say we’re drafting by need, but when you look at the forwards and the defensemen that are available you can go for a preference.”

Shame he doesn't have Getzlaf skill.

Huge red flags on his production and absolutely should not be picked in the top 5 this year.
- BINGO!

I would welcome his game to the Hawks lineup. Justin's blog title is "What does this team really need?" My answer...they need a lot more nasty, size, and net front presence in their Top 9. Brady Tkachuk can do that and despite some production concerns in college this year, I think WILL do that for an NHL club as soon as next Spring.

Keith has been a Rover his entire career. To succeed Keith requires a quality veteran D-Men to cover for him and allow him to rove. .
- Z3Hawk

True. With any roving, read and react, jump in mobile Dman you need a solid stay at home guy to cover for him. Karlsson has his Ceci type.

Overpay....
- Return of the Roar

I think it’s a fair deal win/win.

I would welcome his game to the Hawks lineup. Justin's blog title is "What does this team really need?" My answer...they need a lot more nasty, size, and net front presence in their Top 9. Brady Tkachuk can do that and despite some production concerns in college this year, I think WILL do that for an NHL club as soon as next Spring.
- EnzoD

Oh yeah, but I also think you can get that elsewhere considering the level of talent that's available in the top 10 of this draft.

If I were the Hawks I'd be more focused on increased mobility on the back end, but

You are wrong. Sorry Saad did fall because of character issues. His character issues were discussed ad nauseam. Ad nauseam. They may have manifested themselves in poorer stats his draft year but he didn’t drop because of stats.
- Z3Hawk

I do remember Saad's draft stock fell hard from a 1st round projection to 2nd or later rounds, and I recall the issue being about attitude or drive or something like that. Regardless, I was still excited when the Hawks were still able to draft him at 43rd (and he wore jersey #43 at first before switching to #20). He had the skillset and NHL frame to succeed and whatever issues he had seemed to go away pretty quickly as he is now a top-line winger (recent crap season aside, of course).

Isn't Stastny a UFA this summer, or did Winnipeg extend him? I wouldn't mind the hawks signing stastny to short term for the right salary.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I think Filppula would be a far better fit with this crew, and can be had for less money/term.

Add him and Brodziak and most woes at C are gone. Probably can get both under $6MM. Leaves money on the table for other upgrades.

Bottom line for me is that there are enough decent UFA players out there which are currently far better than the rookies the team has now who can add the skill, grit and benchmarks for the rookies to strive to meet and exceed. The youngins need more time in the AHL oven to know what they have. Too many of these guys have been asked to play over their heads. Kills their confidence.

I do remember Saad's draft stock fell hard from a 1st round projection to 2nd or later rounds, and I recall the issue being about attitude or drive or something like that. Regardless, I was still excited when the Hawks were still able to draft him at 43rd (and he wore jersey #43 at first before switching to #20). He had the skillset and NHL frame to succeed and whatever issues he had seemed to go away pretty quickly as he is now a top-line winger (recent crap season aside, of course).
- AEL_Fox

He was injured and production dropped.

I think Filppula would be a far better fit with this crew, and can be had for less money/term.

Add him and Brodziak and most woes at C are gone. Probably can get both under $6MM. Leaves money on the table for other upgrades.

Bottom line for me is that there are enough decent UFA players out there which are currently far better than the rookies the team has now who can add the skill, grit and benchmarks for the rookies to strive to meet and exceed. The youngins need more time in the AHL oven to know what they have. Too many of these guys have been asked to play over their heads. Kills their confidence.
- Return of the Roar

Filpula is a 3C at this point in his career. Wouldn't mind having him if we trade Anisimov, but we need a 2C as well.

Filpula is a 3C at this point in his career. Wouldn't mind having him if we trade Anisimov, but we need a 2C as well.
- Panarin27

Brodziak played 2C for the Blues after Stastny left and did a darn good job of it. Plus he was 52% at the dot last year. Winning draws can make up for speed just by getting possession. Only need him there for a year or two at most anyway.

Think Vegas model - no one horrible, not too many "stars", but guys who play the game well and with some size and nasty.

In North America US College does not impose the same challenges as the CHL. Longer schedule to start with. The quality of hockey is also different. If you are 23 or older and playing US College hockey that is not necessarily a good thing. That these older players are there is not necessarily a positive argument. In any event if the argument is that Tkachuk had dominance at the US College level against older players then single digit 8 goals in 40 games must mean dominance then.
- Z3Hawk

Twist it anyway you want and again I'm not here to change your mind on any player. My point was to the poster who said true freshman 18 yr old Tkachuk played against kids was that NCAA players play against players who are 21 yrs old like Dennis Gilbert was last yr at ND and TWENTY THREE yr old Dylan Sikura was last yr!!

If you think a 22 or 23 yr old playing D1 NCAA hockey is an ankle bender you simply have not watched that level. In fact you take the Memorial Cup winner vs an NCAA champ in a 5 or 7 game series the NCAA will win 4 out of 5 times because they are more mature. It is a more mature level played with 1st rd 18-19 yr olds against late rd and undrafted 21-22-23 yr olds.

The NCAA route is a 40 game schedule vs a Major Junior 68 game schedule. There is no right or wrong path to the NHL. The NCAA route has a full practice most every day of the week and weight room time along with going to class developing their mind. The Major Junior route has muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch less practice and weight room time.

Again no right or wrong path and IMO it's fantastic the kids have options because each kid is different.

I agree. Think Ottawa drafts him. Just hoping Kotkaniemi is there at 8 for us.
- z1990z

I think Ottawa is one of the wild cards with them possibly trading Karlsson before the draft and probably sometime this season. Depending on the return they may look at a Hughes or Boqvist to replace him. Who knows how it shakes out with OTT.

Hinostroza signed for 2 years.
- Justin Lowe

Wow, Hawks are busy. Hino and Hayes, done. A good day.........

Wow, Hawks are busy. Hino and Hayes, done. A good day.........
- Mr Ricochet

With Duclair, Jurco and Clendening to go, current cap space is now $4,725,705 + Hossa LTIR.

For all the reasons you state, even though Wiz's site has Tkachuk falling to 8, I think someone grabs him before Stan is on the draft clock.....
- EnzoD

Could go anyway, Zo. Who knows but at 8 the Hawks will have plenty of options to select a POTENTIAL NHL top 3 Dman or top 6 forward. A great draft for a Hawks fan, a rare draft yr. But no matter who wants who as a fan we can all agree they can't miss on this 8th pick.

I still say if Wahlstrom is there at 8 he's a Hawk whether I like that pick or not.

With Duclair, Jurco and Clendening to go, current cap space is now $4,725,705 + Hossa LTIR.
- Return of the Roar

Hawks see what you see. How nice would it be to shed that Hossa money?

Draft the young Finn center. Hope he and the young Finn d-man are NHL-ready now. Lots of Blackhawks problems disappear.

Hawks see what you see. How nice would it be to shed that Hossa money?
- Mr Ricochet

If they sign the remaining three at the minimum QO rates, they will only have $2MM in real cap left.

You are wrong. Sorry Saad did fall because of character issues. His character issues were discussed ad nauseam. Ad nauseam. They may have manifested themselves in poorer stats his draft year but he didn’t drop because of stats.
- Z3Hawk

Link me up if you can. I remember it differently. ..... I'd add Beach fell cuz of character issues. https://www.eliteprospect...raft/nhl-entry-draft/2008

With Duclair, Jurco and Clendening to go, current cap space is now $4,725,705 + Hossa LTIR.
- Return of the Roar

At last year’s cap?

There are many “hockey people” who have mentioned his lack of skill including Bob McKenzie of TSN.
- Z3Hawk

Link me up if you can. I'm a huge Ray Ferraro fan, played and sees the game right, of any of his analysis of a player at any level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duc4vffiM0g

If you need more links I have the time.

EDIT: Go to the 4:00 mark of the above link and McKenzie speaks of why Tkachuk will go top 5 in the draft.

Another edit. Love what Ferraro says about Brady's dad at the 6:37 mark. Old school hockey in his genes man.

It's probably him understanding that he had no negotiating power to ask for more. Hayden had only 13 points, less than 11 minutes of TOI per game, and then played in less than 50 games. $750k is pretty much right on value for that type of usage and production.
- L_B_R

I think the Hawks use that to their advantage sometimes in determining who to demote or who to give playing time too. If they give someone too much of a role too soon, you know their contract demands will go up.

I think Filppula would be a far better fit with this crew, and can be had for less money/term.

Add him and Brodziak and most woes at C are gone. Probably can get both under $6MM. Leaves money on the table for other upgrades.

Bottom line for me is that there are enough decent UFA players out there which are currently far better than the rookies the team has now who can add the skill, grit and benchmarks for the rookies to strive to meet and exceed. The youngins need more time in the AHL oven to know what they have. Too many of these guys have been asked to play over their heads. Kills their confidence.
- Return of the Roar

Just so I'm following you correctly, you would have Toews, Filppula, and Brodziak as centers but does this include Anisimov? And is Schmaltz moving to wing? So something like:

Toews 1C
Anisimov 2C
Filppula 3C
Brodziak 4C

or

Toews 1C
Schmaltz 2C
Filppula 3C
Brodziak 4C

or

Other

Just so I'm following you correctly, you would have Toews, Filppula, and Brodziak as centers but does this include Anisimov? And is Schmaltz moving to wing? So something like:

Toews 1C
Anisimov 2C
Filppula 3C
Brodziak 4C

or

Toews 1C
Schmaltz 2C
Filppula 3C
Brodziak 4C

or

Other
- AEL_Fox

Yes - all of the above are possible, Adds new gears to Q's blender he has not had in a while.

He was injured and production dropped.
- fattybeef

Yes, now I recall that as well but also remember some scouts and analysts not liking something unrelated to on-ice presence and productivity.

I guess who cares now as this is water under the bridge with Saad being pretty much injury free in his young NHL career (knock on wood) and nothing close to being a locker room cancer or headcase.